š WEEKLY POWER GOALS š
š„ 30ā2ch | 60ā5ch | 100ā8ch | 200ā15ch | 400ā25ch
ā° Resets Monday!
~~~~āā~~~~~~~~āā~~~~
CLASH!
An ear-shattering dragon's roarātangible, crushingāripped through the night.
"What was that?"
Beneath the sky-shaking bellow, the very ground trembled.
"L-look! The sky!"
The moonlight was blotted out.
Every head snapped upward.
Against the pitch-black curtain of night.
A violet-gold dragon soared. In a breath, it was upon the Nine-Tails.
Talon met iron-hard scale.
Sparks exploded like falling stars.
Those who had given up hope trembled, their eyes opening wide, vision drowned in a sea of shimmering, brilliant gold.
"Is thatā¦ a summon?"
The shinobi who witnessed it gasped.
A creature actively protecting the village and its people? It had to be a summon.
Xiao Qing's massive draconic body coiled, snatching up shinobi and civilians moments from being crushed beneath the Nine-Tails' claws and depositing them in safety.
Eyes like twin torches in the darkness, Xiao Qing circled above, then dove, claws outstretched for the fox.
"Xiao Qing, drive it to the village outskirts!"
Hakuki stood atop the Hokage Monument, her command clear.
"ROAR!"
The Nine-Tails thrashed, its body constricted by ever-tightening coils, dragged step by roaring step away from the village center by brute force.
"All shinobi, withdraw from the Nine-Tails' immediate vicinity!"
Hakuki's voice cut through the chaos, aimed at the ANBU still swarming the beast.
In that moment, no one questioned her authority.
They only knew: she was the one who could stop this.
The Nine-Tails was relentless. The tangle with the dragon only stoked its fury.
Under Hakuki's training, Xiao Qing's fusion progress with the Taixu Ancient Dragon had reached sixty percent. But once, it was just a snake.
It lacked experience. And, frankly, it was a bit of a dummy.
The Nine-Tails raked its claws across Xiao Qing's snout.
Xiao Qing saw red. It swung a massive paw and smacked the fox right in the face.
Two titans, one dragon, one fox, trading blowsāa clumsy, earth-shaking brawl.
"HRRRN!"
Xiao Qing's tail whipped across the Nine-Tails' muzzle. The beast staggered.
The crimson haze in its vertical pupilsā¦ faded.
Obito's control shattered.
The Nine-Tails' own mind surged back.
Its first act?
Charging a Tailed Beast Ball aimed straight at the stunned dragon.
"ā¦"
Hakuki watched the dragon just stand there, dumbfounded.
So even with Ancient Dragon blood, I can't fix its IQ?
"Return."
At her command, Xiao Qing dissolved into a stream of light, shrinking back to a small serpent and coiling around Hakuki's wrist.
The Tailed Beast Ball swelled, ready to fire.
Space around it warped.
Time seemed to freeze.
Hakuki landed lightly at the village's main gate.
"Hakuki-sama!"
A shinobi inside the gate cried out in worry.
That sphere of annihilation was headed right for her.
Hakuki's chakra erupted.
A wall of iceāone meter thickāexploded from the village's outer edge. It shot upward, ten meters high, encasing the entire Leaf in a glacial fortress.
Bitter cold radiated outwards. Only Hakuki's lone figure stood exposed before the wall.
Everyone held their breath, hearts lodged in their throats, as the massive, swirling black sphere hurtled closer.
Hakuki didn't hold back. The Infinity's chakra surged forth, unrestrained.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Blue."
"Cursed Technique Lapse: Red."
Two colossal spheresāone crimson, one azureāmaterialized beside her.
Their oppressive aura dwarfed even the Tailed Beast Ball.
"Hollow Technique: Murasaki."
Lightning split the sky. Ominous clouds swallowed the moon.
Within the heavy layers, thunder boomed, electricity danced.
Like a living conductor, thick arcs of lightning coiled around Hakuki's body.
Before the immense violet sphere, her figure seemed minuscule.
Yet, to every soul in Konoha, she had never looked taller.
As long as she's there, the thought was a lifeline, we're safe.
A howling gale tore through the clearing. Her robes snapped violently in the wind. Debrisāstone, sand, splintered woodāhammered against the ice wall in a chaotic, deafening percussion.
A hundred meters away, the Nine-Tails plopped down on its haunches, its expression utterly bewildered.
Have I been cooped up too long?
Since when did humans get this strong?
[Ding! Affection of Key Character Nine-Tails has decreased by 10!]
Hakuki's hand, poised to launch her attack, faltered.
What theā?
That counts as affection?
"Ahem. The Nine-Tails is a key narrative entity in the Narutoverse. The potential skills areā¦ not insignificant."
The system sounded almost embarrassed to admit you could romance a tailed beast.
"So, if I don't 'romance' it, I can't get those skills?" Hakuki asked, tone sincere.
Before the system could answer, she continued, "Actually, the romance part isn't that important to me."
"?"
A question mark flickered on the digital screen.
"I know this 'affection' I gather probably benefits you somehow. We're partners. I'm not about to let you get the short end of the stick. So, I'll keep at it. Even if there were no skills, I'd still do it for you."
Hakuki believed in fair exchange. The system could grant her skills from other worlds. Her collected 'affection' must be valuable to it in return.
The system fell silent, genuinely taken aback.
"Look, I'm independent now. Even if you skip the Nine-Tails, I can still pull strong skills for you. Don't worry!"
The system said firmly, "I've got your back!"
Hakuki fought back a grin, her voice grave. "True bros. Partners for life."
Just then, a figure flickered into existence beside her.
Minato's Hokage cloak billowed in the raging wind.
"Hakuki, thank you. I'll take it from here."
Minato's eyes held deep regret. Letting her face such dangerā¦ he had failed as Hokage.
"Minato-senpai, we're all part of this village."
Hakuki's smile was warm, unwavering.
[Ding! Affection of Key Character Minato Namikaze has reached 95!]
With the Nine-Tails handed off to Minato, and Hiruzen managing the chaotic village, Hakuki's form flickered, vanishing into the wind.
In the forest behind the village, Obito leaned heavily against a tree trunk, gasping for air.
Blood bloomed across his chest.
Half his body was flesh and blood, the other half Zetsu-white.
His fight with Minato had wounded both sides.
A chakra signature flared nearby. Obito's Sharingan spun. His hand flew to the cold hilt of his sword.
He saw who it was. The tension bled away.
"Hurt?"
Hakuki stated the obvious.
Even with Kamui, the current Obito was no match for Minatoānot in battle IQ, not in experience. The gap was still vast.
"What are you doing here?"
Shouldn't she be in the village, dealing with the chaos?
The single visible Sharingan gave nothing away.
"Was worried you got yourself killed."
Hakuki was blunt.
She raised a hand. A soft glow enveloped Obito's form.
His injuries visibly knitted back together.
Obito stayed silent. Was it her words? Or the weight of the night?
"Don't you thinkā¦ I'm cruel?"
The question came after a long, heavy quiet. He stared right at her.
From the day Hakuki entered Konoha, he'd been prepared for her to know everything. That he was the supposedly dead Uchiha Obito. His past with Kakashi and Rin. That he was the one who unleashed the Nine-Tails, who caused Kushina's death, and whoā¦
Would cause his sensei'sāMinato Namikaze'sādeath.
"Cruel?"
Hakuki suddenly laughed, looking at him with genuine amusement. "By that logic, aren't I cruel too? Minato-senpai and Kushina-senpaiā¦ they were kind to me. They trusted me, didn't they?"
A strange, unexpected weight lifted from Obito's chest. A lightness he hadn't felt in years.
"We're the same."
Hakuki met his gaze, repeating it with conviction. "We're the same kind of people."
An ambiguous smile touched Obito's lips. The familiar, mocking glint returned to his eye, as if the previous heaviness had never been.
"I'm leaving. Be careful."
With those words, Obito vanished from the spot.
Time's about up.
Hakuki glanced at the moon, finally peeking back through the clouds. Her form flickered, gone.
At the village outskirts.
Kushina, body pushed beyond its limits, stumbled into the clearing, clutching a tiny, wailing bundle.
Now, only she, a true Uzumaki, could bind the beast.
Countless golden chains erupted from her body, lashing out, instantly shackling the Nine-Tails' limbs, pinning its wildly thrashing tails.
"Kushina!"
Minato's jaw clenched.
A tailed beast extracted meant death for its jinchūriki. Kushina's unique constitution had only bought her time.
But death was the inescapable destination.
"Ahh!"
The Nine-Tails' struggle was immense. Kushina's weakened body swayed, threatening to collapse.
"Minato! The seal! Now!"
Kushina had taught him the sealing technique.
At the word 'seal,' the Nine-Tails' fury redoubled.
Decades of imprisonment, malice festering, hatred for humanity burning brighter than ever.
Its claws scrabbled at the chains binding its limbs, but the adamantine links held fast.
The fox was apoplectic.
Thenāa baby's cry pierced the air.
Kushina and Minato froze simultaneously.
"ROAR!"
A savage, triumphant light blazed in the Nine-Tails' eyes.
It erupted with all its remaining might, one massive clawānails like spearsāshooting straight for the infant.
"Naruto!"
"Naruto!"
Minato and Kushina's eyes went wide with horror.
They moved as one, bodies blurring to intercept.
THWUNK.
The sharpened claw punched clean through both their chests.
Blood sprayed, painting the grass crimson.
"ROAR!"
The Nine-Tails violently jerked its arm, the deadly point driving relentlessly toward the baby's soft, pale skin.
"NARUTO!"
Minato and Kushina strained, hands grasping the monstrous digit, holding it back with the last dregs of their strength.
But a tailed beast's power, even bound, was beyond human measure.
"NO!"
Blood frothed at Kushina's lips.
As the razor-sharp claw met its targetā
Hakuki materialized between them.
The Limitless held the claw at bay. In a flash, she and the baby were a dozen meters away, safe.
"Haahā¦"
Kushina sagged, a shuddering breath of relief escaping her.
She looked at Hakuki, and her eyes instantly welled up.
"Thank youā¦ Hakukiā¦"
[Ding! Affection of Key Character Kushina Uzumaki has reached 95!]
"Minato-senpai! Kushina-senpai!"
Seeing the gaping wounds in their chests, Hakuki's pupils contracted in shock.
"Stay back!"
Minato's voice was firm, stopping Hakuki's forward rush.
It was still too dangerous. The Nine-Tails had to be sealed first.
"Senpai! Iā¦ I can heal youā¦ I can save youā¦"
Tears welled unbidden in Hakuki's eyes, her voice cracking, words tumbling out in a desperate jumble.
Minato and Kushina's expressions softened instantly.
"Even though Hakuki acts so matureā¦ she's still just a child, isn't sheā¦"
Kushina managed a pained smile. "Our fateā¦ is sealedā¦"
Hakuki stared, stunned. Hot tears spilled over, falling onto Naruto's swaddled form.
"Waaahā¦ waaahā¦"
The infant's cries filled the silence.
Kushina's face was suddenly streaked with tears. "Hakukiā¦ Iā¦ have aā¦ final requestā¦"
"Pleaseā¦ take care ofā¦ Narutoā¦"
Her gaze was locked on the tiny form in the blankets, tears flowing freely.
"What are you saying?! Naruto can't grow up without his parents!"
Minato had already begun the sealing ritual. The Nine-Tails' struggles were weakening. Hakuki cautiously drew closer.
"Senpai! Let me try! I will save you!"
Hakuki's tears wouldn't stop. "For Naruto's sakeā¦ pleaseā¦ don't die!"
Kushina shook her head slowly, still smiling. "Weā¦ don't want to leave him eitherā¦ butā¦"
A fresh torrent of blood spilled from her mouth.
The seal activated.
The Nine-Tails roared one last, impotent threat as its form was inexorably pulled, shrinking, into the seal on the infant's stomach.
The other half of its chakra was drawn into Minato's own sealing matrix.
"Hakukiā¦ I entrust him to youā¦"
Minato's smile remained gentle, even as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Narutoā¦ don't be pickyā¦ eat lots, and grow up strongā¦"
"Bathe every dayā¦ soak in hot water to stay warmā¦ and don't stay up lateā¦ get plenty of sleep!"
"And make friendsā¦ you don't need a lotā¦ a few true, trusted ones are enoughā¦"
"Andā¦ your mom wasn't great at it, but you must study hard, both schoolwork and ninjutsuā¦ Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Don't get too discouraged if it's toughā¦ Respect your teachers and seniors at the Academy."
"Listen to your Hakuki-neeā¦ If you don't understand somethingā¦ ask herā¦"
"Ah, something importantā¦ about the three shinobi prohibitions. Be careful with money, especially loans. Save your mission earnings properly. Don't drink until you're twenty. Drinking too much is bad for you. Know your limits."
"And the big one among the threeā¦ women. I'm a woman, so I don't really get itā¦ But this world has men and women. You'll be interested, I'm sure. Justā¦ don't be fooled by shady women. Find someone like your mom. And about that third prohibitionā¦ be extra careful around Jiraiya-sensei."
"Narutoā¦ you'll face a lot of painā¦ a lot of hardshipā¦ But you must stay true to yourself. Have dreams. Have the confidence to make them real. Andā¦ andā¦ andā¦ andā¦ There's so much more I want to teach youā¦ So much more time I want by your sideā¦ I love you."
The words came in broken, fading whispers. Finally, Kushina's gaze settled on Hakuki.
She was waiting for an answer. The only one that would let her rest in peace.
"I will take care of Naruto. I swear it."
Hakuki choked back a sob, her promise ironclad.
"Thank youā¦ Hakukiā¦ so muchā¦"
Kushina looked at Hakuki one last time. The light in her eyes slowly dimmed, then faded away.
[Ding! Affection of Key Character Kushina Uzumaki has reached 100!]
Minato held his wife close. He had only one thing left to say.
"Narutoā¦ listenā¦ to your motherā¦"
His eyes met Hakuki's, holding the same profound gratitude.
[Ding! Affection of Key Character Minato Namikaze has reached 100!]
~~~~āā~~~~~~~~āā~~~~
Read up to (40+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/GoldenLong
Happy reading, everyone!